New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-13
TIE SILK DYERS STRIKE.

HOW II HURTS TIE BUSINESS or PATTERSON, Y. j.
800. 900 WEEK IN WAGES LOST
The strike now in progress among the silk dyers Of
Paterson ~ j. IS having disastrous eject upon the
entire silk industry OF the country and the general
prosperity OF Paterson Fully 80 per cent OF the silk
produced in the United States il made in the mills IN
Patterson, jersey City Heights, Iobokrn. Union Hill.
and that vicinity With tho exception OF few Of the
lar,er manufacturers in Pate son, all tie mills
Tics. places have their silk dyed at the large
dyeing establishments in Paterson. conservative
estimate places the number OF expert dyers and de-
pendent aborers in this section at between 900 and
/ 600 while thc weavers and other hands engaged in
the manufacture OF sAA bOou7 h"i''' IL IOIud As
urcs over 2O,OOO
r,niou a number OF the members OF Which we're
Er,hts Of Labor demanded tie manufacturers that
hereafter thcg should not employ any dyer VINO WAS
not a member IN good stand NJ OF the knights OF
Labor They malo several other demands but tie
whole controversy has resolved itself down 10 THIS
one The manufacturers seeing that this den and II
,onrrd with would take ont 81 tn-r hands the night
ia on whom they chose. and practically make them
tho collectors OF the labor organization. ~ no member
IN arrears Tor his dues considered - be IA good
standing, refused to acccdc TO tho demand and a
strike OF al the hands employed IA connection with
the dyeing process. followed
Shortly before th.s. the weavers employed in the
Newly ork mills strucA tor n advance III WAGES and
their demands were granted by tho manufacturers
no the condition that they cause tho same advance
~ the mills at Paterson Jersey cry and the adjoining
towns hefure March l. committee OF the New
York wcaycrs visited the mills at Paterson and
ureed the men thcro TO strike "a order that
tbe conditions of the surrender Of the New
York manufacturers mi-hi TO complied with Tic
Paterson wcaycrs however saw that with the dycrs
out "A strike on their part would be trultlcss and
fused to 20 out In Consequence OF tins acton on tie
part OF the rates were restored In tho New
! Ork mills, which caused blttef war between the
woAyers and the dycrs.
When the Overs threatened to strike they agreed
that they would finish all silk IN process Of dycing
when they went ont and tie manufacturers availcl
themselves OF this promise by preparing Larger Ouan
titics of silk than usual for dycing. With bat r.
ceptions the dycrs kept their word As tins course sup
plied most OF the manufacturers with Largo quantities
of raw material immediate elects o. the stilke were
tclt Bat presently the silk on the looms began 10
r,n out one by one and there WAS none coming from
the dive watts 10 take It's place nothing was lett but 10
,hut down the looms and discha "a the operators In
tins manner many OF the milA have ueen smut down
already not one IL running with tu force, and those
that arc IN operation at all Will be obliged to close in
short time II the strike continues ENcn II the silAo
hn,I Lr declared on at once or in a short time ana
the Divers return 20 work, II will take from SIX To eght
month";. before tho mills be OrOd Iht 10 where they
were before the weut out and a. 1t requires IRON
two to tour weeks TO dye tho SILK according 10 the
color required largo part oil the % orators Wi" nave
TO remain IDLE that ,cneth OF tms IN any event On
the other hand should the strike continue much longer
the prescnt season will be over and the 10000 or
moro hands employed IN the MILLS Viii DO forced to
remain idle until August al least
This state OF affairs Is having tho eject OF forcing
orders which would be placed IN paterson 10 ul's IN
other parts OF the country and Is driving great many
of them to foreign markets Fears entertained by
some OF the larger manufacturers that II Will ruin the
present season. which ono OF the most promising
ia the history OF silk manufacture la this country and
give the industry serious set back 1t Is said the
loss III on capital invested will be heavy.
The strike Is having all equally disastrous elect
upon the city OF Paterson. IL Is stated upon good
authority that large number, estimated by some 10
be one bali OF the manufacturer have lett the ery
daring the past year and located elsewhere on 40
finn. lafrt a
that 90 per OF the labor OF Paterson is
employed IN the silk mills and that there eaTus at
least \ 90 900 per week. Tho withdrawal OF this
snm IRON circulation among tho tradesinen OF tho
oty will seriously embarrass many oI them II not
destroy their business entirely. Already they are
begiuning to complain of falling OF i'll thei' trade
and, AS a precautionary measure, they are III many
cuses refusing credit to the null hands The railroad
companies say that tho closing OF the mills affecting
the also and that there Is serious decrease III tue
freight shipments. One prominent manufacturer who
operates ono OF the largest nall, in tho country said
that rather than surrender hs liberty OF employing and
discharging whom he chose te would shut up his mill
permanently aud retire from business.